US Congress sealThe Congressional Human Rights Caucus, headed by Representative Tom Lantos and Representative Frank Wolf, is holding a briefing “On the Panchen Lama’s 18th Birthday: A Look at Religion in Tibet Today” on April 25, 2007. April 25 is the birthday of the Panchen Lama Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, who has been under detention since 1995.

Lodi Gyari, Special Envoy of H.H. the Dalai Lama, Commissioner Felice Gaer of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, T. Kumar of Amnesty International, Mickey Spiegel, Human Rights Watch, and Kate Saunders of the International Campaign for Tibet will be testifying at the hearing.

The Caucus’ announcement said, “This briefing comes at an important time for Tibetans as they struggle against an ever-tightening Chinese grip. Recent restrictions on religious practice and scholarship have been stricter than they have been in years. Chinese authorities have now infiltrated all monasteries and nunneries through ruling committees, weakening their local authority. Schools have been order to promote ‘patriotic education’ and religious holidays have been increasingly discouraged. Last month, in response to the Tibetan government in exile’s call for prayers for the Dalai Lama’s long life, all religious practice was forbidden in Lhasa.”

Following is the full text of the announcement.

Congressional Human Rights Caucus (CHRC)

Briefing – On the Panchen Lama’s 18 Birthday: A Look at Religion in Tibet Today
Wednesday, April 25th, 2007
10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Room: 2200 Rayburn

We invite you to attend a briefing of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus on the 18th birthday of the Panchen Lama to discuss the situation of religion in Tibet today. The briefing will be held on Wednesday, April 25th, 2007, at 10:30 a.m. in room 2200 of the Rayburn House Office Building.

April 25th will mark the 18th birthday and official adulthood of Gedun Choekyi Nyima, a young man recognized by the Dalai Lama as the 11th reincarnation of the Panchen Lama. However, Gedun has not been seen since he was taken into custody of the Chinese authorities in1995 at the age of six. Years of attempts by international organizations and governments world-wide to gain access to the Panchen Lama remain unsuccessful. In his place, the Chinese government installed their own Panchen Lama, a young man named Gyaltsen Norbu. Despite a decade of propaganda by the Chinese leadership promoting Gyaltsen, Tibetans refuse to accept him as the true reincarnation, referring to him as the “Chinese Panchen.”

This briefing comes at an important time for Tibetans as they struggle against an ever-tightening Chinese grip. Recent restrictions on religious practice and scholarship have been stricter than they have been in years. Chinese authorities have now infiltrated all monasteries and nunneries through ruling committees, weakening their local authority. Schools have been order to promote ‘patriotic education’ and religious holidays have been increasingly discouraged. Last month, in response to the Tibetan government in exile’s call for prayers for the Dalai Lama’s long life, all religious practice was forbidden in Lhasa.

The fate of Gedun Choekyi Nyima, although unknown, is spiritually and politically significant to Tibetans and their future. In memorializing his birthday we are also acknowledging the ongoing struggle Tibetans face.

To discuss these important issues, we will welcome as expertwitnesses:

Panel One

-Felice Gaer, U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom
-Lodi Gyari, Special Envoy of His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Panel Two

-Kate Saunders, International Campaign for Tibet
-T. Kumar, Amnesty International
-Mickey Spiegel, Human Rights Watch

We hope you will attend. If you have questions, please contact Sarah Burns (Rep. Lantos) at x5-3531, or Molly Miller (Rep. Wolf) at x5-5136. For media inquiries, please call Lynne Weil at x5-5021.

Sincerely,

Tom Lantos, M.C.
Co-Chair, CHRC

Frank R. Wolf, M.C.
Co-Chair, CHRC